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On August 17-18, 1942, 211 Marine Raiders launched America's first special operations assault in the Pacific, striking Japanese-held Makin Island from submarines. This daring raid tested revolutionary tactics while seeking to divert enemy attention from Guadalcanal. Though costly, it established the template for modern Marine special operations and earned the first World War II Medal of Honor for an enlisted Marine.
The Makin Raid of August 17-18, 1942, represented America's first offensive ground combat operation in the Pacific Theater following Pearl Harbor. As the United States launched its major amphibious assault on Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942, Admiral Chester Nimitz conceived a diversionary operation to draw Japanese attention northward to the Gilbert Islands. The raid had multiple strategic objectives: destroying Japanese installations, gathering intelligence on the Gilbert Islands, capturing prisoners, and testing the newly-formed Marine Raider tactics.
"What we had captured was a perfectly legal Japanese edition of one of our own charts, complete with all the inaccuracies of the original survey." - Intelligence officer describing captured Japanese charts of Tarawa
The timing was crucial. With the 1st Marine Division committed to Guadalcanal, military planners sought to prevent Japanese reinforcements from reaching the Solomon Islands by creating a second front of concern. The Gilbert Islands, particularly Makin Atoll (then called Butaritari Island), provided an ideal target for America's nascent special operations capabilities.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt, inspired by British Commandos, pushed for the creation of elite Marine units despite opposition from Marine Corps leadership. Major General Thomas Holcomb, Commandant of the Marine Corps, reluctantly created two "Raider" battalions in February 1942.
The 2nd Marine Raider Battalion, activated February 19, 1942, under Lieutenant Colonel Evans F. Carlson, represented a radical departure from traditional Marine organization. Carlson innovated 3-man "fire teams" as the basic unit, with one man carrying an M1 rifle, one with a Thompson submachine gun, and the third with a Browning Automatic Rifle.
Training Regimen:
Personal Equipment and Weapons:
|
Category |
Equipment |
Specifications |
|
Individual Weapons |
M1 Garand Rifle |
Semi-automatic, .30-06 caliber |
|
|
Thompson Submachine Gun |
.45 ACP, 20-30 round magazines |
|
|
Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) |
.30-06, 20-round magazines |
|
Heavy Weapons |
Boys Anti-Tank Rifle |
.55 caliber, 36 pounds, Canadian-sourced |
|
|
.30 Caliber Machine Guns |
Light machine guns for suppressive fire |
|
Uniform |
M1942 Frog Skin Pattern |
Reversible: 5-color jungle/3-color beach |
|
Transport |
Landing Craft Rubber Large (LCRL) |
Inflatable boats with 6 HP outboard motors |
The Raiders dubbed the Boys anti-tank rifles "Elephant Guns" due to their massive .55-caliber bore and 36-pound weight. These Canadian weapons were acquired through cooperation with British Commonwealth forces to provide the Raiders with portable anti-tank capability.
The Imperial Japanese Navy's Makin Atoll Garrison, officially designated the 62nd Garrison Force, was part of the Marshall Islands Garrison established in 1942. The force structure reflected Japan's strategic emphasis on seaplane bases to extend their defensive perimeter.
Japanese Order of Battle:
|
Unit |
Personnel |
Commander |
Equipment |
|
Seaplane Base |
71 armed personnel |
Warrant Officer Kyuzaburo Kanemitsu |
Four Type 92 Lewis machine guns |
|
Seaplane Tender Base |
4 members |
Various NCOs |
Light weapons |
|
Meteorological Unit |
3 members |
Weather specialists |
Scientific equipment |
|
Civilian Interpreters |
2 personnel |
Administrative staff |
Administrative supplies |
Warrant Officer Kanemitsu had placed his garrison on alert several days before the raid, having received intelligence warnings of potential American operations. The Japanese defensive strategy emphasized mobility, with troops equipped with bicycles and trucks for rapid deployment across the eight-mile atoll.
Japanese Weapons and Equipment:
Two massive mine-laying submarines, USS Nautilus (SS-168) and USS Argonaut (APS-1), served as transport vessels for the 211-man raiding force. These submarines represented the largest in the U.S. Navy at the time, each displacing over 4,000 tons submerged.
USS Nautilus (SS-168):
USS Argonaut (APS-1):
Captain James Jones, father of future Marine Commandant James L. Jones, conducted periscope reconnaissance of the Gilbert Islands aboard USS Nautilus, establishing accurate intelligence on potential landing sites. However, Allied intelligence significantly underestimated Japanese strength, believing only 45 personnel defended Makin when actual strength exceeded 75 combatants.
At 05:13 on August 17, 1942, Companies A and B of the 2nd Raider Battalion successfully landed on Makin after launching in rubber boats powered by 6 HP outboard motors shortly after midnight. The landing proved extremely challenging due to rough seas, high surf, and mechanical failures of the outboard motors.
Landing Complications:
Lieutenant Oscar Peatross and his 12-man squad, unaware of Carlson's plan change, landed at the original secondary beach position at 05:15. This fortuitous error placed them behind Japanese defensive positions.
Peatross Squad Achievements:
The garrison commander, already on alert, rapidly deployed his forces using bicycles and trucks to confront the American invaders. Japanese defenders demonstrated tactical flexibility and aggressive counterattack capabilities despite being outnumbered approximately 3:1.
The Japanese launched two separate banzai charges against Raider positions, both resulting in the virtual annihilation of the attacking forces. These desperate assaults eliminated most of the garrison's combat effectiveness but demonstrated the ferocity of Japanese resistance.
First Banzai Charge:
Second Banzai Charge:
Four Type 92 Lewis machine guns raked Raider positions, killing multiple leaders including Lieutenant Jerry Holtom and four radio operators. Japanese snipers, camouflaged and strapped to palm trees, proved particularly effective against Marine leadership.
Notable Casualties:
At 13:30 on August 17, twelve Japanese aircraft, including two flying boats carrying reinforcements, arrived over Makin. This aerial reinforcement attempt represented Japan's rapid response capability despite the raid's diversionary nature.
Japanese Air Assets:
The flying boats attempting to land in the lagoon met concentrated fire from Raiders equipped with machine guns, rifles, and Boys anti-tank rifles. The Raiders used their Boys rifles to dispatch both Japanese float planes, with one crashing and the other bursting into flames.
Weapons Effectiveness:
At 19:30 on August 17, Raiders began withdrawing using 18 rubber boats, many with non-functional outboard motors. The evacuation immediately encountered severe difficulties due to unexpectedly strong surf conditions.
Evacuation Challenges:
An exhausted and dispirited Carlson dispatched a note to the Japanese commander offering surrender, but the messenger was killed by other Marines unaware of Carlson's plan. This incident highlighted the breakdown in command and control during the crisis.
At 09:00 on August 18, submarines sent a rescue boat to establish rope lines from ships to shore, but Japanese aircraft attacked, sinking the rescue boat and forcing submarines to crash-dive.
Final Evacuation Success:
USMC casualties totaled 18 killed in action and 12 missing in action. The missing personnel represented one of the war's early mysteries, later resolved through post-war investigations.
Breakdown of Missing Personnel:
Carlson reported personally counting 83 Japanese bodies and estimated 160 total Japanese killed based on reports from Makin Island natives. This represented nearly complete destruction of the garrison.
The nine captured Marines were transported to Kwajalein Atoll where they were interrogated and executed on October 16, 1942. Lieutenant Taniura Hideo, squad leader of the Japanese 6th Defense Force, conducted the interrogations after arriving from Truk with reinforcements.
War Crimes Tribunal:
The Makin Raid achieved mixed results regarding its primary objectives:
After Carlson's raid, the Japanese significantly reinforced the Gilberts, garrisoning Makin with a full company of the 5th Special Base Force (700-800 men) and resuming work on coastal defenses. This reinforcement would make the eventual 1943 invasion far more costly for American forces.
Japanese Defensive Improvements:
In 2000, 58 years after the raid, remains of 19 Marines were discovered on Makin Island through bioarchaeological excavation and recovery operations. This discovery provided closure for families and honors for the fallen.
Recovery Process:
The burial ceremony at Arlington included a funeral service at Fort Myer Chapel where Commandant James L. Jones spoke, honoring the sacrifice of Carlson's Raiders. This ceremony connected the wartime sacrifice with contemporary Marine Corps values.
Medal of Honor:
Navy Cross Citations:
The raid generated significant media attention, with newspapers creating an official battle song for the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion. In 1943, the film "Gung Ho!" depicted the Makin Island raid, bringing the story to American audiences.
Battle Song Excerpt:
"They were gathered from near and were gathered from far,
They were picked from the best in the land,
A hell-raising crew that sailed the blue,
Carlson's raider band."
The Makin Raid provided crucial lessons for future special operations:
Equipment Lessons:
Operational Lessons:
Following Makin, the Raiders participated in the famous "Long Patrol" on Guadalcanal, conducting a 29-day mission that killed 488 Japanese while losing only 16 Marines. However, by February 1944, the four Raider battalions were disbanded and reorganized as the 4th Marine Regiment.
Modern Legacy: In 2014, the Marine Special Operations Regiment was redesignated the Marine Raider Regiment, honoring the World War II legacy while incorporating modern special operations capabilities.
